Stamp-affixing machine.



J. W. MQGANN.

STAMP APPIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1908.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

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Attorney WITNESSES J. W. McGANN.

STAMP AFFIXING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION rum) 001'. 23, 1908.

943,952. Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

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J. W. McGANN.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rnnn 001. 23, mos.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

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I J. McCANN. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 190B.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

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U1 STA T @FFICE.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPII IV. MCCANN, a citizen of the United States, and a residen of iVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Aftixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for aflixing postage stamps to envelops, postcards, etc., and has for its object the provision of a machine provided with means to feed the mail matter to the stamp-affixing mechanism, having a device for moistening the mail piece, and a mechanism for delivering the stamps singly to the envelop and pressing them into position thereon.

lWIy invention will be described in detail hereinafter, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View in elevation of one side of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a similar view of the opposite side; Fig. 3, an end View; Fig. 4, a detail view of the envelopmoistening device; Fig. 5, a view of the stamp-afiixing device in the position assumed before an envelop is inserted; Fig. 6, a central vertical sectional view of the stampaflixing mechanism; Fig. 7, a horizontal seetional View on the line :0 ac of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a similar view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a fragmental detail view showing the pressure-block in position to aflix the stamp; and Fig. 10, a detail view of the pawl controlling the operation of the machine showing the reverse side from that shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

1 indicates the base, having the table 2 thereon to receive the envelop or post-card to be stamped, and provided with an upwardly-extending flange 3 on one side to correctly position the envelop or post-card.

4 and et indicate standards secured adjacent to one end of table 2, having a roller 5 journaled thereon. The standard 1 ends above the journal of collar 5, but the standard 4 is extended upwardly and formed with a cross-bar 6 and vertical extension 7. Standard 1 and extension 7 are provided with vertical slots 8 in which are mounted the trunnions 9 of roller 9 that is held normally in engagement with the surface of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 23, 1908.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Serial No. 459,195.

roller 5 by means of a U-shaped spring rod 10, secured to pin 11 on cross-bar 6, and having the ends of its arms provided with eyes 12 engaging trunnions 9. 13 indicates another standard secured to base 1, having vertical slots 14 and 15 therein, with beveled walls 14 and 15, respectively.

16 indicates a plate slidably mounted on standard 13 and secured thereon by means of lug 17, removably secured thereto, mounted in slot 15, and provided with beveled sides 17 to engage beveled walls 15 19 indicates a horizontal table extension on the upper end of plate 16.

20 indicates an expansible coil-spring engaging the lower end of slot 15 and the under side of lug 17 to hold the plate 16 and table 19 in a normally raised position. As the lower end of plate 16 when in its raised position nearly reaches the base 13 of standard 13, it will be understood that it has but slight movement downward and is intended to tear off the stamp from the strip after being affixed to the envelop by the mechanism hereinafter described.

21 indicates another plate slidably mounted on standard 13 by means of a lug 22, secured thereto, mounted in slot 1 1 and hav ing beveled sides 22 engaging beveled walls 141- of said slot, said plate being held in a normally raised position by means of an cxpansible coil-spring engaging the underside of said lug 22 and the lower end of slot 1 1-.

2 1 indicates a presser-bloek extending from the lower end of plate 21 and having its outer edge beveled, as shown at 2 1, to guide the envelop or post-card into position between the block 2 1 and table 19.

25 indicates a semi-cylindrical casing secured to standard 13 to cover slots 11 and 15, and provided with partitions 26 opposite the ends of the slots to form bearings for the lower ends of the springs 20 and 23.

The upper end of plate 21 is provided with a cam-face 27, and 28 indicates a lever fulerumed on standard 13 and having a cam-face that engages cam-"face 27, it being understood that when the lever 28 is swung downwardly the plate 21 is actuated downwardly also and the envelop or postcard that may be between the table 19 and block 21 is submitted to pressure.

29 indicates a plate secured to standard 13, having a horizontal table 30 secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and 31 an invertedchannel-shaped guide-plate secured to side edges of table and cut away, as shown at 32, to form overhanging flanges 33, a web 34: connecting said flanges and a central integral tongue 35 extending toward table 19 with an upwardly-extend ing beveled lug'36 on the end thereof. The outer ends of flanges 33 are curled up, as shown at 33*, to guide the strips of stamps between the table 30 and guide-plate 31, said strips being mounted on a reel 37 ournaled on the end'of said table 30.

33 indicates an arm secured to lever 28 and 39 a rod pivotally secured to the free end of said arm having a downwardly-extending bifurcated extension 40 on one end with pin points 41 on the ends of its prongs that engage the perforations between the stamps when the lever is actuated.

a2 indicates a block pivotally secured be tween the flanges etO that rides on tongue when the lever is actuated downwardly and provided with a cross-bar 43, secured thereto, that engages said prongs so that the points 41 are held from engagement with the stamps when the rod 39 is actuated to ward the outer end of guide-plate 31, while when the rod 39 is drawn toward the presser block 24 the block 42 swings clear of the prongs so that they enter the cut-away portions 32 to engage the stamps as stated. The web 34: is formed with grooves 34? to receive the points ll and guide them into said cut-away portions 32.

indicates a spring secured to arm 33 and short arm of rod 39 to hold the prongs lO and block 42 normally in a lowered position. 7

45 indicates a lug on the inner side of one of the prongs 40 that engages the edge of the presser-block 24 when the rod 39 reaches the limit of its rearward stroke in pulling the stamp under said block 2-.t, and when the block 24L raises to release the stamped missive thereunder the prongs are also raised out of engagement with the stamps at the same time. The block 42 by engaging lug.

36 is held over tongue 35 in position to engage the tongue 35 on the next downstroke of the lever and hold the prongs from engaging the stamps during the outward stroke of said rod 39.

46 indicates a spring-tongue secured to the top of presser-block 2 1 and having a clownwardly extending end 4L7 that engages the perforations between the stamp under said block 2 1: and the next succeeding stamp to hold the strip of stamps stationary while the stamp is being afiixed to the envelop or card, the downward movement of the table 19 when actuated by block 2% operating to tear said stamp from the strip.

etS indicates a gear-wheel journaled on supports 19, secured to base 1, and 50 a pitman connecting lever 28 and said gear-wheel to give it a rocking motion each time that the lever is actuated as above described.

51 indicates a shaftjo'urnaled on support 52, secured to standard a and an extension 53 of one side of guide-plate 31.

54 indicates a pinion secured to shaft- 51 and meshing with gear-wheel 48, and a beveled pinion, also secured to said shaft and meshing with beveled pinion 56 secured to the trunnion of roller 5. Itwill be understood from this construction that when the gear-wheel 48 is turned clockwise by the downward movement of lever 28 the roller 5 is rotated in the direction to move an envelop toward standard 13, while when the lever swings upwardly so as to reverse the movement of the wheel 48 the roller 5 is turned in the opposite direction to return the envelop or card to table 2.

57 indicates a bar secured to plate 29 and 58 a pan having straps 59 secured thereto, loosely engaging bar 57 so that itmay be removed and replaced, as desired, said pan being designed to hold a moistening agent when the strip of stamps is already supplied with an adhesive, or when the strip is not provided with an adhesive the pan is supplied with a liquid adhesive.

(50 indicates a roller journaled on a crankshaft 61, journaled in the sides of pan 58, and having one end extended and forming a crank, as shown at 62.

indicates a rock-shaft journaled in extensions 53 and 53 of guide-plate 31, having an angular extension 64 at one end that engages crank 62 and a spring-arm 65 secured to its other end that engages lug or projection 66 on gearwheel 48 when the wheel is turned clockwise, as above stated, and rock said shaft 63 to raise roller 60, the top of the lug 66 being beveled, as shown at 66*, so that the spring-arm 65 rides backward on the top of said lug when the wheel as is turned counter-clockwise by the upward movement of the lever 28.

67 indicates a plate secured to standard 4: to limit the upward movement of roller 60, and also to restrain its rotation so that its contents are impressed on the envelop or post-card and the moistening more effectually accomplished.

68 indicates another projection 011 gear wheel t8 having oppositely-disposed ratchets 69 and 70 on its two faces, and 71 a spring-actuated pawl mounted on base 1 and having its free end formed with an L-shaped end 72, provided with beveled faces that engage beveled faces 73 and 75L at the two ends of projection 68. The purpose of projection 68 and pawl 71 is to insure a complete rocking of the lever up and down each stroke to insure a complete operation of the machine, the pawl 71 engaging the teeth of ratchets 69 or 70 to prevent return of the lever unless a complete stroke is accomt wheel and one of the rollers aforesaid, sub

plished.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 I claim is 1. In a stamp-aflixmg machme, the alhxing device, a stamp-table suitably supported adjacent to the affixing device, a rocking T arm, a rod pivotally secured to said arm, prongs extending from said rod to engage the stamps, and means to hold said prongs from engagement with the stamps when the stantially as shown and described.

7. In a s'tamp-aflixing machine, rollers for actuating the mail pieces, a gear-wheel suitably journaled, a lever suitably fulcrumed, a pitman connecting said lever and gearwheel, a shaft suitably journaled, a pinion secured to the shaft and meshing with the 1 gearavheel, and beveled gearing connecting said shaft and one of the rollers aforesaid,

substantially as shown and described.

prongs are moved away from the attixing device, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a stamp-affixing machine, the allix- I ing device, a stamp-table suitably supported adjacent to the aflixing device and delivering j and a lever fulcrumed 1n the standard and thereto, a guide secured to said stamp-table having a central integral tongue and cutaway portions on each side of said tongue, a rocking arm, a rod pivotally secured to said arm, prongs extending from said rod to enter said cut-away portions, and means secured to said prongs and engaging said tongue to hold the prongs out of engagement with said cut-away portions, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a stamp-affixing machine, the attixing device, a stamp-table suitably supported adjacent to said atlixing device and delivering thereto, a guide secured to said stamptable having a central integral tongue and cutaway portions on each side thereof, a rocking arm, a rod pivotally secured to said arm, prongs extending from said rod to enter said cut-away portions, and a block pivotally secured to said prongs and engaging said tongue to hold the prongs out of engagement with said cut-away portions, substantially as shown and described.

i. In a stamp-aflixing machine, the a'ttixing device, a pan supported adjacent to said affixing device, a crank-shaft journaled in said pan, a roller journaled on said crankshaft, a wheel suitably journaled, means to simultaneously actuate the altixing device projection on the wheel to actuate the said roller, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a stamp-atlixing machine, rollers for actuating the mail pieces, a gear-wheel suitably j ournaled, a lever suitably fulcrumed, a pitman connecting said lever and gearwheel, and gearing connecting said gear- 8. in a stai'np-al'lixing machine, a slotted standard, a table slidably mounted in one of the slots, a spring for holding the table in a raised position, a presser block slidably mounted in the other slot in the standard,

engaging said presser-bloclt, substantially as shown and described.

t). In a stamp-atlixihg machine, a slotted standard, a plate mounted in one of the slots in the standard, a table extending from said plate, a spring for holding said table and plate in a raised position, another plate. slidably mounted in another slot in the standard and having a cam on its upper edge, a presser-blocl extending from the last-named plate and adapted to engage said table, a spring for holding the presser-block from engagement with the table, and a lever fulcrumed on said standard and having a camface to engage the cam-face on the plate aforesaid to depress the presser-block and the table, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a stamp-aitixing machine, a standard, a table slidably mounted on the standard, a presser-block also slidably mounted on the standard and adapted to engage the table, a stamp-table secured to the standard and positioned to deliver stamps onto the slidably mounted table, a lever fulcruined on the standard and engaging the resser-block, an arm secured to the lever, a rod pivotally secured to said arm, and prongs extending from said rod and engaging the stamp-table at times, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a stamp-atlixing machine, a standard, a table slidably mounted on the standard, a presser bloclr also slidably mounted on the standard and positioned to engage the table when depressed, a stamp-table secured to the standard and positioned to deliver stainps onto the slidably mounted table, a lever fulcrumed 011 the standard and engaging the presser-block, a. clamp secured to the presser-blocl; and engaging the stamptable when the block is depressed, an arm secured to said lever, a rod pivotally secured to said arm, and prongs extending from said rod and engaging the stamp-table at times, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a stamp-allixing machine, a standard, a stamp-affixing mechanism mounted on said standard, a stamp-delivery table also mounted on the standard and positioned to deliver to said affixing mechanism, a lever fulcrumed on the standard and operatively connected to said aflixing mechanism, stampdelivering mechanism mounted on the lever, a mail-piece delivery mechanism positioned adjacent to said standard, a moistening mechanism mounted on the standard, and mechanism operatively connected to said lever to actuate the delivery and inoistening mechanisms, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a stamp-aiiixing machine, a standard, a stamp-afiixing mechanism mounted on said standard, a stamp-delivery table also mounted on the standard and positioned to deliver to said a'fiixing mechanism, a lever :t'ulcrumed on the standard and operatively connected to said affixing mechanism, an

arm secured to the lever, a rod pivotally secured to the arm, prongs secured to said rod to engage said stamp-delivery table at times, rollers journaled adjacent to said affixing mechanism and positioned to deliver thereto, a pan mounted between the rollers and afliX- ing mechanism containing a moistening agent, a moistening roller mounted in said pan, a gear-wheel suitably j ournaled, and operatively connected with said lever, mechanism operated by said gear-wheel to actuate the nioistening roll, and gearing connect ing the gear-wheel and the delivery rollers, substantially as shown and described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ,V. MOCANN.

.Vitnesses E. B. SHAvER, James K. POLK. 

